This skincare routine made me give up my foundation for good

The wonders the right products can do

Our skincare routines are constantly evolving. Weather changes can lead to random bouts of acne, stickiness or dryness—all things that only a shift in skincare regimens can fix. On the days that our skin doesn’t make us feel confident, we tend to turn to our makeup bag to look more put together, but let’s face it, putting on a full face of makeup every day is a process that not all of us have the luxury of indulging in. Besides, we all know how easy it is to get stuck in a vicious cycle of covering bad skin with makeup, only to have it cause more skin problems.

I have combination skin, and struggle with grease that coincides with PMS on a regular basis. There’s a period every month where I can feel my face get even stickier and develop acne that I just can’t leave alone. The irritated bumps would leave marks, and my constant need to fiddle with my skin brought on fresh waves of acne. I knew this had to stop. After a lot of trial and error, I ended up with the perfect skincare routine to control the breakouts, which not only saved my skin but also had me picking up a whole new makeup routine that takes all of 10 minutes to do.

Skincare saviours

While my skincare routine wasn’t exactly amateur to start with, an extra few products and added steps helped me optimise it for my needs. I continued to use the Simple Micellar Cleansing Water at the end of the day (I use a gel-based face wash in the mornings), but introduced the Pixi Glow Tonic to my routine right after. The exfoliating toner helped balance out the excess oil my T-zone produced over the course of the day by a considerable degree. This was followed by the lightweight Body Shop Skin Defence Multi-Protection Essence SPF50 as a standard morning routine—because the acids in the toner are photo-sensitive and sunscreen is essential.

The real hero in my beauty kit, however, is the Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Scrub. The 3 per cent glycolic acid- and salicylic acid-infused microfoliant helped reduce acne marks and visibly tightened my pores from the first use itself, and the beautiful, citrusy scent made sure that I diligently used this scrub twice a week. My final beauty trooper: The Plum Green Tea Clear Face Mask. Gentle on my face, this mask pulled the gunk out of my skin without drying it out or making it feel irritable. Add a spritz of the Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water after, and I was all set for the day.

Makeup sans foundation

A night out on the weekend or an important work event always calls for a little something extra for your face. After a few weeks of following my new skincare regime, I was surprised to not find myself hurriedly blending my foundation underneath office lighting when the occasion called for a face full of makeup. I started with a thin layer of the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, which blurred away any minor unevenness. This was followed with a few swipes of the Benefit Cosmetics Boi-ing Brightening Concealer around my eyes and my mouth to mask discolouration caused by different undertones in my skin. Next, I swished on the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara that is a no-brainer to instantly wakes up your eyes, a few dabs of rosy blush and a tinted lip balm. This has become my go-to look now, and funnily enough, every single time I’ve stepped out in it, I’ve been complimented on my skin and asked about what base/foundation I’m using. And you know exactly the conversation that follows after.

Find your skin problem and solve it with the right products

All this is not to say that this is the ideal routine for everyone with problem skin. We all have unique skin types that react differently, based on a host of internal and external factors—which means everyone’s skin issues are different too. We got Mumbai-based dermatologist Dr Madhuri Agarwal to give us a simple product-based solution to every kind of skin concern. Clear skin is only a twist and pump away.

If you have dry patches…

…try to use creamy face washes or cleansing oils. Make sure you moisturise in the day and night with products containing hyaluronic acid, and stay away from retinol-based creams. Honey-based face masks will help give your skin a boost of moisture.

If you have redness…

…make sure you use a mild cleanser that is dermatologically-tested and fragrance-free. Oatmeal-based face washes are calming for the skin. Avoid using toners, unless they’re rose water-based or contain witch hazel. You can also use raw milk on your face, as its lactic acid content helps calm your skin.

If you have excessive acne…

…use a face wash containing AHAs like glycolic acid and BHAs like salicylic acid. Use a scrub for excess oil, but make sure it’s gentle. You can also use tea tree oil preparations that actively work on the acne. However, make sure you see a dermatologist if you have persistent active acne, because it could be an infection.

If you have acne marks…

…use products containing glycolic acid, which will help lighten blemishes and marks. Niacinamide and licorice extracts also help target dark spots.

If you have pigmentation…

…use sunscreen and makeup containing brightening agents like Kojic acid and mulberry extract. Look out for the same and other ingredients like moringa for your night cream. You may need to start using anti-ageing skincare products if your pigmentation is age-related.